Chapter Text
It’s only been a few weeks since everything happened, since Kazuki and Rei went to speak to the boss. Rei still can’t move his arm but the organization no longer poses a threat to their family. Hopefully that problem is solved for good.
Both dads are so glad that Miri didn’t have to witness any of it. She has no idea how much they risked for her, still innocent as ever. For that, it was all worth it.
There is a new problem to deal with now. Miri has been asking to see her mother a lot, and telling her she had to help Santa or that she went on a trip was only ever meant as a short term solution.
They both know that Miri will keep asking questions and they will have to answer them, which is a scary thought. Will she even understand? What are they going to tell her?
“We can’t lie to her.” Rei grew up in a family that was anything but honest. He certainly doesn’t want
that
for his own.
“But Rei, she’s so innocent, so young. We can’t tell her the truth either.” As much as Rei hates to admit it, Kazuki is also right. they can’t tell her what really happened.
“What do we tell her then?”
“How about, white lies.”
"White lies?” Rei never heard of that term. There’s a lot he never learned about.
“Yeah, innocent little lies that you tell someone to not hurt them and not for malicious reasons. We tell her white lies because they are necessary to protect her and keep everything age appropriate.”
“So we lie.”
“We will tell her the truth once she’s old enough, okay?” Kazuki looks at him with a bittersweet expression. It’s clear he also doesn’t like to lie, but Miri is 5 years old. Just because he had to witness violence at that age doesn’t mean Miri has to as well. On the contrary, Rei wants to keep her as far away as possible from it for exactly that reason.
“Okay.”
***
A few days later the family is sitting in the living room together, watching a show when it happens.
“Papa, when will mama come back to visit?”
Rei and Kazuki give each other a look. It’s time . They aren’t ready.
Kazuki lifts Miri up so she can sit in his lap before he starts talking.
“Miri, Papa Rei and I have to tell you something. Your mommy is dead. She won’t be coming back.”
Miri just stares at him, looking confused. “Dead?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, Miri. But she loves you so very much and she knew your dads would take good care of you.” Rei can tell it hurts him to say this but he’s trying to keep it together for her sake.
“Mommy… Mommy isn’t coming back?” Tears well up in Miri’s eyes.
“No Miri, she can’t.” Kazuki hugs her, holds her close as tears stream down her face. He is also crying but trying to hide his face from her. Rei doesn’t cry easily, but seeing the two people he loves most like this is almost too much to handle.
Suddenly, Miri looks at them in horror. Her face is still all wet. “Is it because I did something bad?”
Kazuki immediately pulls her close again. “No Miri, this isn’t your fault! You did everything right! She was very sick. When people get very sick, they can die.” There it is.
The white lie .
They couldn’t possibly tell her what really happened. It would just traumatize her further, if she’d even understand.
After a few minutes of crying into Kazuki's shirt, Miri sniffles “Will- will you leave me too?”
That question is what finally breaks Rei. He drops down to the floor in front of them and looks directly at Miri with watery eyes.
“No Miri. Look at me. We will never leave you. Never. I promise.”
“You promise?” Her voice is weak, still sniffling.
“I promise!” He holds up his pinky finger for her to take - a pinky promise can never be broken. She hesitates for a second before taking the finger. After releasing it, Rei hugs her as well.
They sit together like that for who knows how long, Kazuki and Rei both hugging Miri in their middle, holding her close and keeping her safe.